The medical term for pre menopause is perimenopause; this is the years leading up to menopause. This phase lasts on average of 4 years but it varies widely, for some women it may pass quickly in a few months while for others it may last as long as 10 years. Most women begin to experience pre menopause symptoms in their mid to late 40s but it can happen as early as the 30s. This phase is marked by a decline in fertility and ends when menopause is reached. Once menopause is reached, a woman is no longer fertile, but during the perimenopause phase, a woman is still fertile and capable of getting pregnant. In the US, the average age of menopause is 52, but it can happen at any time between the ages of 40 and 60. Menopause is said to start the day a woman has her last and final day of menstrual bleeding, but until a woman has gone a full year with no bleeding she is still considered potentially fertile. After this year has passed, menopause is fully confirmed.

Pre Menopause Symptoms

• Hot flashes
  
• Night sweats
• Insomnia
• Mood swings
• Memory loss
• Vaginal dryness
• Loss of sex drive
• Unwanted facial hair
• Breast tenderness
• Irregular periods
• Exhaustion
• Tinnitus (ear ringing)
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Headaches
• Muscle soreness
• Brittle, dry fingernails
• Memory loss
• Weight loss
• Hair thinning or loss
• Dizzy spells or problems with balance
• More or less blood flow during menstruation
• Accidental urine leakage while coughing or laughing
• The need to urinate more often
• Heart palpations or irregular heart beat
• Stomach problems such as gas, nausea, constipation or bloating
• Formication (this is the sensation of things crawling under or on your skin or a sensation of pins and needles)
• Osteoporosis (this is the slow loss of bone density that occurs over a long time frame)
• Tingling in arms and legs
• A possible increase in urinary tract infections

Summary

Some of these symptoms may be the result of other medical conditions such as thyroid conditions, diabetes, or high blood pressure, so getting a doctor’s exam is always a good idea. While this is a list of possible pre menopause symptoms, most women will only experience a few of these and some women sail through pre menopause and menopause with absolutely no symptoms at all.